Choosing between a cast iron and steel fire.

We get asked this question all the time these days. Many who ask us have a pre-conception that cast iron stoves are far superior to steel logburners. However in our experience this is not the case.

Most of this argument comes from the heat storage capacity of cast iron versus steel and many people choosing between the two will purchase cast iron as they have come to believe that they hold the heat a lot longer than steel. This is the case and one I cannot argue. It is fact that cast iron has a higher heat storage capacity than steel. However, this needs to be explained further in order to answer the question.

There are now very few cast iron stoves made in the UK and many of them available on the market are Chinese imports. Even stoves that look cast iron that are made in the UK are in fact a steel body with cast iron doors added to the front.

Cast iron has an inherent problem when compared to steel Stoves. That is that cast iron stoves suffer from thermal shock. This means as the stove heats up rapidly tiny cracks can appear in the casting. One of the main comments we receive from customer is that there old stove is held together by fire cement as the castings have cracked. This simply doesn’t happen with steel wood or multifuel burning stoves. Steel is inherently elastic and therefore will stretch rather than split under rapid firing.

Another misconception is that steel stoves twist and bend under intense heat. I can totally agree with this if the stove is poorly designed and manufactured. However a good quality stove will not suffer from twisting. Always look for steel stoves with a 3 year warranty that way you can tell that the manufacturer has confidence in their process.

Modern and contemporary wood burning stoves are now designed with the latest low thermal mass brick sets that deflect the heat as well as make the fire burn hotter and more efficient. High efficiency is a function of good design and ensuring you choose a stove of 80% efficiency (vesta V4) or more is a good way to gauge the quality. These bricks are similar to what is used in night storage heaters. They have a higher heat storage capacity than cast iron and therefore offset the benefits of cast iron.

So to sum up, cast iron stoves in many cases are inferior to steel woodburning stoves. They are prone to cracking whereas steel stoves are elastic. Once a cast iron stove cracks it’s time to replace it as they become potentially dangerous. Always choose a good quality steel stove and definitely one that made in the UK, if not to support the UK’s manufacturers but to ensure your warranty can be honoured for many years to come.

The latest creation by Vesta Ironworks the stylish log stove designed and built in the United Kingdom. The Vesta V6 contains all the revolutionary air blade system that all of Vesta’s log fires utilise to keep the glass free from soot and create a perfect view of the log fire. The Tubular can take a 300mm log length avoiding the need for special sized logs. The Fire inside the tubular is controlled effortlessly by rotating the top spinner to close down the air supply. The Vesta Log stove also has a tertiary air jet ensuring that the stove is complete burning and making the most of every log.

Vesta Ironworks also produces the tubular range of log fires in double sided options as well as offering multifuel options for use in smoke control areas.

For further details or to purchase a Vesta V6 tubular please visit our online shop.

In order to get the best from your woodburning stove it is important to carry our regular checks and maintenance throughout the year. This guide is based on maintaining your Vesta Stove although the principle’s are the same for any wood or log burner as well as multifuel stoves.

Each woodburning stove has its own design characteristics but the most common maintainable components are as follows:

Glass

The glass on your woodburning stove is designed to stand high temperatures and therefore is under a lot of stress from the harsh environment it operates in. Glass can be cleaned with a Glass cleaner on a regular basis to remove sooty deposits. Glass panels can be simply replaced when they start to appear cloudy.

Firebricks

Firebrick linings are made from Vermiculite, a compressed materials designed to withstand the harsh environments inside the stove. From time to time small stress cracks may appear in the linings. this is normal and is caused my thermal shock. When the bricks start to fall apart its time to replace them. They can be purchased by calling us on 0161 4080 431. Hoovering out the baffle brick on the stove should be done monthly to ensure debris on top of the baffle brick is removed.

Rope Seals

Probably the most important part of the stove, the rope seals should be tensioned and cared for on a regular basis. A good test is to trap a piece of card inside the door of the stove and check that there is tension on it when you try to remove it. To remove a rope seal simply grab one end with a pair of pliers and pull it from its slot. Inserting your new rope seal is simple and can be purchased by calling 0161 4080 431 Rope seals ensure that your stove is running efficiently and safely.

Door handle

The door handle also acts as a pretension for the rope seal. By turning the handle upside down you will find a small grub screw that can be adjusted to add more or less tension the rope seals.

Paint

To keep your stove looking good as new it’s important to use a polish once a month.

As we manufacture all our woodburners in-house we have the ability to create custom woodburners and bespoke items. Our designers work with 3 dimensional solid models enabling us to show you how the finished article will look in your home even before we start to manufacture it. We have manufactured bespoke stoves, custom BBQ’s and purpose built multi fuel stoves for the last 5 years and due to our current product range you can be assured that your custom fireplace will be as high efficiency as a mass produced woodburner

Most of our custom stoves start with an informal chat to discuss your requirements then followed by a project brief giving the customer chance to provide sizes and outputs as well as style and functionality, All our custom woodburners come with a 5 year warranty.

If you are thinking about a purpose built stove of fireplace then speak to Vesta Ironworks. We have a proven track record and a wealth of experience. Call us today on 0161 4080 431 or contact us for an informal chat about your requirements.

Probably one of the most of the most common questions we get asked on a day to day basis.

• How do I install a boiler stove?
• How do I install a woodburner with a back boiler?
• How do I install a wetback stove?
• How do I install a stove for hot water?

Firstly its important to understand the requirements of the user. What is the stove intended to heat?

• Domestic hot water
• Radiator circuits
• Underfloor heating

Its is also very important to understand how the woodburner will be installed and how the water connections will be interlinked with existing heating systems in the property. Many users of boiler stove opt for the simplest type of installation. That being a gravity fed system were the unit supplies hot water through a radiator circuit. However as more modern homes opt for low carbon heating it has not become necessary to create complex systems that link wood burning boiler stoves with pressurised systems run by gas or oil.

Were a gas condensing boiler is to be linked with a woodburner a thermal store can be used so that the unpressurised system (wood) can be connected with the pressurised system (gas or oil). There are other products on the market that can do this without the need for a thermal store but we have not tested any to date.

Our woodburning stoves contain 4 boiler outlets and have 2 completely separate boilers that are completely independent of each other. This allows for gravity circuits to be isolated from each other and faster transfer on energy into the water system.

We can offer design advice for all aspects of installing your boiler stove so feel free to contact us on 0161 4080 431 to discuss your installation or see www.vestastoves.co.uk

Vesta Stoves launch their all new tubular range of woodburners for 2012. The V6 Tubular woodburning stove contains all the Technology of Vesta’s range of modern woodburners with a twist on style by adding stainless steel finishing touches. The Tubular log burner contains

• Vesta Trademark Airblade Airwash System
• High Efficiency +78% LTM Liners
• Hidden Bolt down legs to prevent the stove sliding on – polished hearths.
• Contrasting Stainless Steel Legs
• Large Landscape glass Stay clear window
• Adjustable Door tension
• Low Maintenance door seals
• Tertiary air intake
• 2 Year No Nonsense Warranty

Options

• Colour matched or contrasting stainless steel legs
• Multifuel Grate including ashpan
• Matching Flue pipes
• Direct feed Air intake
• Double Fronted (2 door one front one back)
• Over 15 different colours

Burning Capability

• Logs up to 500mm Long
• Coal, Anthracite, Smokeless Fuel
• Peat
• Overnight Burn

Buy now direct from the Ironworks and cut out the middlemen.